Dead Man Logan #12
The book lives up to its name in Dead Man Logan #12, by writer Ed Brisson, artist Mike Henderson, colorist Nolan Woodard, and letterer Cory Petit. There was only one way this series would end, and the creative pulls it off in a great effort. The only drawback is it feels a little rushed.
Dani, now with the power of Thor, Bruce Jr, and Logan attack Sabretooth and his forces. Logan injects himself with his last vial of Regenix and jumps into the fray, going after Sabretooth, as Dani and Bruce Jr make short work of his lackeys. The brawl goes on, with Sabretooth giving Logan some wounds before he's taken out, cutting him to pieces. Logan is worse for wear, and Dani and Bruce Jr help him, but Sinister shows up, demanding Bruce Jr. Dani and the hammer make short work of him, and Logan asks them to take him home to his old ranch. He saves his final words for his slain family and goes to join them. Dani and Bruce jr bury him and set out for a new home because that's what he would want them to do.
The highlight of this book is Logan's last words to his family. He reveals that as much as he's tried to move on, he's only thought of them the whole time, that the love his family shared brought him through the tough times. He also tells them of his regrets and how he wishes he had fought for them sooner. This is a perfect encapsulation of the character- a man broken by his past mistakes, but moving forward because of love until he can't anymore. He hopes they can forgive when he sees them again. Logan, any version of him, has always strived for redemption, and this iteration is no different. His last word is "please," a final entreaty for forgiveness, and it's heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time.
If the issue has any problem, it's the pacing. That's really not Brisson's fault, though. He only had so many pages to work with and needed a proper amount of them for a particular scene. The fight at the beginning of the issue is good, but it feels a little rushed. Really, this book should have gotten a bigger page count. Sure, the 616 Wolverine is back, making this version a bit superfluous, but he was a big part of the Marvel Universe since the end of Secret Wars, and his finale deserved an increased page count. It's the only drawback of the book.
Mike Henderson's art fits very well. As usual, his fight scenes are kinetic and powerful. The opening page, with Logan, Dani, and Bruce ready for battle, is terrific and sets the stage for the fight to come. Dani killing Mister Sinister is both grotesque and very funny, as Mjolnir bursts him like an overripe melon. Later in the book, Henderson captures Logan's pain and emotion as he talks to his family for the last time. His art is masterful.
Dead Man Logan #12 is an excellent send-off for Logan. Brisson and company are a bit rushed by the page count, but it hits the right emotional notes. The fight, in the beginning, lacks a bit of punch because of the pacing, but it's still exciting. The highlight of the book is Logan's farewell to his family, perfectly capturing the man and his struggle with his past. Brisson, and Jeff Lemire before him have been writing one of the best Wolverine books in years, and Dead Man Logan was a fantastic send-off for the character. It had action, adventure, and emotion. Ed Brisson's writing captured the personalities wonderfully, and Mike Henderson's art made the whole thing that much better. This issue was almost perfect, a fitting end.
